Defending state champion Jordan Valley laid an early claim that theyre again the team to beat during a 73-44 victory Thursday over Burnt River in the District 4-1A tournament.

Center Jeff Anderson, a 6-5 senior with tremendous leaping ability, led the Mustangs with 25 points, including three thunderous first-half dunks. Fans on both sides seemed impressed with his effort, cheering each dunk louder than the last.

It was pretty fun out there, he said. We may have been a little sloppy at times, but it was a good first-round win. Were going out to play them just one game at a time.

Mustangs coach Dan Johnson let his bench play much of the second half. Junior Pat Conro had 10 points, as did freshman post player Pat Anderson. Junior Shaun Lequerica had three treys for nine points, while Gracian Uhalde chipped in with seven points.

Senior Will Bradford was the top scorer for the Bulls with 15 points. Another senior, Arron Bradford, was next with nine points. That pair was followed by junior Cody Anderson and junior Parker Schnetz, who contributed six points apiece. Other Bulls into the scoring column were junior David Siddoway with three points; sophomore Craig Siddoway and freshman David Reilly, who scored two points each; and junior Diego Lima, who had one point.

At halftime, I just told them to keep their heads up, have fun and play basketball, Bulls Coach Brian Bradford said afterward. Jordan Valley is a good team, and we just couldnt deny them.

The Mustangs will face Prairie City tonight at 8:45. The Bulls played Spray this morning in the consolation bracket.

MITCHELL ELIMINATES DAYVILLE-MONUMENT

Mitchell eliminated Dayville-Monument from the District 4-1A boys basketball tournament Thursday morning at Baker High School.

The Loggers outscored Dayville-Monument 36-15 in the first half on the way to a 69-47 victory in the consolation semifinals.

Mitchell, the Tri-Co League champion, was led by 28 points from Dustin Cloud. Cloud was 11 of 15 from the field and 6-of-9 from the free throw line. He added five rebounds and three steals.

Joelle Bain shot 10 of 11 from the field, scored 25 points, hauled in 10 rebounds, and made eight steals all in just 15 minutes of play to lead the Powder Valley Badgers past Mitchell Thursday, 71-22, in the first round of the District 4-1A tournament.

Ten of 12 Badgers were in the scoring column, and everyone played at least eight minutes.

The Badgers play Crane at 7 p.m. today in a semifinal game. Mitchell faced Dayville-Monument in the consolation bracket this morning.

Its always good to get that first game under your belt, Powder Valley Coach Allen Bingham said. I thought Joelle played a great game tonight. And it was nice that all the girls got the chance to play.

In the first half, the Badgers defensive pressure was way too much for the Loggers to handle. Powder Valley finished the night with 28 steals, while Mitchell had 39 turnovers.

The Badgers Amanda Bingham finished with 16 points, and Amber Harrison had 10.

Powder Valley raced to a 19-5 lead at the end of the first quarter and by halftime had removed all doubt with a 36-7 lead. Bingham rested his starters during most of the second half.

Jennifer Watkins was the top Mitchell scorer. She had nine points.

Powder won despite not having a particularly good shooting night. The Badgers were just 38 percent from the field on 26-of-68 shooting, but were 70 percent (19-of-27) from the free throw line.

Their defense, though, was razor sharp, limiting the Loggers to just 7-of-39 shooting from the field (18 percent).